A few minutes earlier, the judge of the Court of Quebec Julie Beauchesne accepted the suggestion of sentence proposed by the parties, three years in prison, with a prescription to reimburse $ 194,350 to the company well Charles Caron.
“I wish you good luck and that you do not commit a similar offense,” said the judge at the end of the hearing. It destroys lives. “
Stress, anxiety, high pressure: Caron family members “were all impacted” by fraud orchestrated by the accountant to whom they had trusted 2021 to 2023, underlined Me Chloé Mongeau, of the Crown.
“There have been any consequences for this company.”
Lesson
At the time, centennial trade, specialized in artesian wells, pumps and water treatment, was crumbling under requests.
“There was so much work that she took advantage of that,” says Isabelle Caron, the owner’s sister, when she left the courtroom.
“It is a chance that it has happened to a company that has existed for a long time,” says his sister Chantal, co -owner of the company. It added a lot of work. It’s a lesson. “
“At least she will no longer play in the money of others,” says Isabelle.
Sonia Houle (Stéphane Champagne/La Voix de l’Est)
Because apart from the prison sentence and the reimbursement order, judge Beauchesne prohibited the 44 -year -old woman from having a job that will lead her to administer the money of others, during the five years following her release from prison.
A measure which had not been taken during the first conviction of the mother of two children, in 2019, for similar offenses committed in Beloeil.
-Given the recurrence “a detention sentence was necessary,” said Me Mongeau.
Solutions
The three -year prison sentence is “appropriate” with regard to case law, said Nicolas Cossette, who defended the accused.
“We come to double the previous penalty.”
Me Cossette argued that her client is a woman who “seeks solutions”, but that the compensation aspect “is not settled”, since she has no job and will not have in the short term.
Me Nicolas Cossette (Stéphane Champagne/La Voix de l’Est)
However, she “put a cross on her dependence,” said the lawyer, without being more precise.
The imposed sentence satisfies the co -owner Jean Caron – especially the order which will prohibit the accused from working again in accounting.
“I find it a good thing so that others do do the same thing as me,” he said.
As for the stolen amount, “I do not expect to review the color of my money,” said the co -owner, who has already won the case in a civil appeal brought against the accused.
“It impacted us, but fortunately, not to the point of ending the company. But we work hard! “
The Charles Caron wells will soon inaugurate their new premises located on rue Dufferin.
